Take a picture, <br />Hanging to a wall <br />In a restful symmetric frame. <br /> <br />Place carefully, <br />So as not to over-balance <br />Very gently <br />One, Or two, Human Beings, <br /> <br />It is their first time at this exhibition <br /> <br />They gape <br />Like butterfilies leaving their cocoon <br />Like playing first time a CD tune <br /> <br />With eyes focused <br />On the painting they stand, <br />Gazing rigidly, intently. <br /> <br />Or staring faraway through infinity. <br /> <br />They are trying to understand the painting. <br />Trying to clarify and classify <br />A foreign experience <br />Into their store <br />Of known experience. <br /> <br />Like a zen novice in the hands of a zen master <br />Doubts arising in a pastor <br /> <br />They will never understand <br />Paintings. <br /> <br />And nor do I! <br /> <br />(Sept 1970, Cape Town, South Africa)<br /><br />Peter Elliott<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/art-gallery-poem-ii/
